For the years prior, I dreaded Halloween. I was in Swaziland two different years for the holiday and was so grateful to not have to think about it.
The cause of my angst was the tension involved for Christians in the holiday. I always kept tabs on Christians who had strong feelings for it one way or the other. Some boycotted the "Devil's Day" and others said how it was important to be incarnational and engage in Halloween "missionally".
I was torn between the fear and guilt I was raised in and my desire to just let my kids have fun and enjoy the day.
When I grew up, we did not participate in Halloween except for on two occasions. I was a pound puppy and a white ninja. But then my parents came to believe it was bad. This is not to knock on my mom who had experienced some occultist stuff in her past and was understandably cautious. I remember opting out of music class in elementary school when they sang, "Have you seen the ghost of John..." I knew that stuff was bad and I should stay away from it. We would have family game nights and eat candy on Halloween night with the lights off so noone would knock on our door.
Then one year, my parents showed us the video. It was an interview with a guy who grew up in a satanic cult and supposedly watched a young girl, his friend, be sacrificed alive. That's what people do on Halloween so we shouldn't have anything to do with it. They also interviewed a police officer who told about all the black cats that are killed on that night. I swore of Halloween gladly after all that.
This set me up to be very confused in college when I met different Christians many of who loved and celebrated Halloween. Why the hell din't they care about the girl being sacrificed? Since then, I have become increasingly comfortable with Halloween but the nagging voice remained. That voice is now gone thank heavens.
At this point in the game I don't believe in supernatural devils etc though I'm sure in the wrong instance I could be spooked. I am sure there are witches and others who do weird shit on this night...well...that's weird shit and not what the rest of us are all about.
It felt good to pass out candy and talk about cool costumes. I even gave some to adults, some elderly folk so they knew they don't have to miss out on the event just because they don't have kids with them. I think that's what felt good. Just feeling included. Earlier in my Christian faith I had internalized the idea that it was dangerous to feel included in society (except for patriotism).
Years ago, if I was at work and asked to hand out candy, I would have been torn up inside. Should I hand this candy out. Am I going along with something evil? Am I compromising. Angst, questioning, guilt.
I am so glad to be over this. And yes I had me a Hershey bar, a Jolly Rancher, and a Gummy Lifesaver. Yummy fun! Happy Halloween everybody!
And props to the family where mom and dad dressed as a raccoon and blue Carebear respectively.
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